This copy of Windows is not genuine

When we boot my wife's computer this morning it does not come to a working screen. Instead it comes to either of a solid black screen or a solid pale blue screen.

This is a Win 7, laptop. Compaq Presario, CQ 61. About 2 1/2 years old.

My 9 year old son was the first person this morning to boot the computer. He reports that when the computer came up first it displayed "Windows 7 This copy of Windows is not genuine."

We've done all the genuine registration stuff that Microsoft has ever requested. We run Marwarebytes once a day to look for malware. We run Ccleaner daily to remove garbage. We always run Comodo Firewall and Avast Antivirus.

Hi -
That led me to safe mode. I was not able to reach Microsoft since there's no internet, but I used the Shutdown Computer button with Restart. That restarted the computer properly. This is a fast resolution.

Hi -
That led me to safe mode. I was not able to reach Microsoft since there's no internet, but I used the Shutdown Computer button with Restart. That restarted the computer properly. This is a fast resolution.

Thank you.

Doug

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Not sure if I understand properly, was the issue resolved? Are you able to boot into normal mode and re-activate windows?

What exactly led you to safe mode? Do you mean that the issue that you are having/had caused you to only access the computer through Safe Mode?

Not sure if I understand properly, was the issue resolved? Are you able to boot into normal mode and re-activate windows?

What exactly led you to safe mode? Do you mean that the issue that you are having/had caused you to only access the computer through Safe Mode?

Just want to verify.

Click to expand...

Hi ComputerGuy55 -
Yes, by now I can say that it appears the problem is resolved. Yes, when I reboot the computer now it comes up in normal mode.

I went to safe mode because the link you provided needs a browser and that wasn't happening in normal mode. No, I don't normally access the computer in safe mode. I only use safe mode when nothing else works.

I submit that the error message "This copy of Windows is not genuine." was a red herring and that the reboot of Windows via the safe mode Shut down with Restart caused the computer to do a systematic reboot properly.